Jabrill Peppers is, officially, a linebacker for the Michigan Wolverines, but that doesn't mean Jim Harbaugh's team will have an issue in the secondary. In fact, Phil Steele of ESPN projects the Wolverines to have the No. 8 defensive backfield in the land and, for good measure, the top unit in the Big Ten in 2016.
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Here is what Steele had to say about Michigan's group:
Michigan was third overall in my pass defense rankings last year, and the Wolverines lost their starting free safety, along with CB Jabrill Peppers making the move to linebacker in 2016. Second-team All-American CB Jourdan Lewis is back, and opposite him is 6-foot-4 Jeremy Clark. Michigan adds in several impact freshmen, too.
The headliner is, of course, Jourdan Lewis and his presence alone places Michigan on the map with a potentially elite secondary. Lewis stands alongside Iowa's Desmond King as the best cornerback in the country, and while the other cornerback spot is up for grabs between Jeremy Clark and Channing Stribling, both players have the talent required to be an above-average contributor this season.
At safety, Michigan technically loses both starting safeties from 2015, but it isn't as if Peppers isn't around at all, and he will likely see some time in coverage. The loss of Jarrod Wilson will be felt from an experience perspective, but Dymonte Thomas is wildly talented and Delano Hill projects as a solid starter at the other safety spot.
Injuries could wreak havoc on a secondary that isn't terribly deep with experience, but Michigan has a great deal of talent in the defensive backfield and experts certainly believe.
